Image processing providing uniformity correction data generation for color signals

Abstract

A uniformity correction data generation unit generates uniformity correction data for an R signal, a G signal, and a B signal. A multiplier multiplies pixel signals of the R signal, the G signal, and the B signal by the uniformity correction data for the R signal, the G signal, and the B signal. The multiplier shifts, from one another, positions of pixels at a time of multiplying the pixel signals of the R signal, the G signal, and the B signal by the uniformity correction data for the R signal, the G signal, and the B signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image processing device comprising:
 a uniformity correction data storage unit comprising a memory for storing reference uniformity correction data for an R signal, reference uniformity correction data for a G signal, and reference uniformity correction data for a B signal, the reference uniformity correction data for the R, G, and B signals comprising reference correction values for the R, G, and B signals on reference coordinates set on a single panel of a display unit, the single panel comprising a first number of horizontal pixels and a second number of vertical pixels, a number of the reference coordinates in the horizontal direction being smaller than the first number, and a number of the reference coordinates in the vertical direction being smaller than the second number; 
 a uniformity correction data interpolator comprising an interpolation circuit configured to generate uniformity correction data for the R signal, which is used to multiply the R signal thereby, uniformity correction data for the G signal, which is used to multiply the G signal thereby, and uniformity correction data for the B signal, which is used to multiply the B signal thereby, in order to correct brightness unevenness on the single panel at a time of supplying the R, G and B signals to the display unit and displaying an image, in such a way that the uniformity correction data interpolator generates correction values other than those for the reference coordinates by interpolation based on the reference correction values, and that the uniformity correction data interpolator generates uniformity correction data for the R, G, and B signals comprising a third number of correction values in the horizontal direction and a fourth number of correction values in the vertical direction, the third number being greater than the first number, and the fourth number being greater than the second number; and 
 a multiplier configured, to multiply each of pixel signals, which compose the R signal, by the uniformity correction data for the R signal, to multiply each of pixel signals, which compose the G signal, by the uniformity correction data for the G signal, and to multiply each of pixel signals, which compose the B signal, by the uniformity correction data for the B signal, 
 wherein positions of pixels with respect to positions of the correction values when the multiplier multiplies each of the pixel signals, which compose the R signal, by the correction values of the uniformity correction data for the R signal, positions of pixels with respect to positions of the correction values when the multiplier multiplies each of the pixel signals, which compose the G signal, by the correction values of the uniformity correction data for the G signal, and positions of pixels with respect to positions of the correction values when the multiplier multiplies each of the pixel signals, which compose the B signal, by the correction values of the uniformity correction data for the B signal are shifted from one another. 
 
     
     
       2. The image processing device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the uniformity correction data interpolator interpolates the correction values by using position information in each of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction on the screen, and 
 position information for use when the uniformity correction data interpolator generates the uniformity correction data for the R signal, position information for use when the uniformity correction data interpolator generates the uniformity correction data for the G signal, and position information for use when the uniformity correction data interpolator generates the uniformity correction data for the B signal are shifted from one another in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, whereby the positions of the pixels with respect to positions of the correction values when the multiplier multiplies each of the pixel signals, which compose the R signal, by the uniformity correction data for the R signal, the positions of the pixels with respect to positions of the correction values when the multiplier multiplies each of the pixel signals, which compose the G signal, by the uniformity correction data for the G signal, and the positions of the pixels with respect to positions of the correction values when the multiplier multiplies each of the pixel signals, which compose the B signal, by the uniformity correction data for the B signal are shifted from one another in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. 
 
     
     
       3. The image processing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a level correction circuit configured to make a correction to reduce an amplitude of each of the uniformity correction data for the R signal, the uniformity correction data for the G signal, and the uniformity correction data for the B signal, when each of color signal levels of the R signal, the G signal, and the B signal is less than a predetermined threshold value. 
 
     
     
       4. An image processing method comprising:
 using hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to individually generate uniformity correction data for an R signal, which is used to multiply the R signal thereby, uniformity correction data for a G signal, which is used to multiply the G signal thereby, and uniformity correction data for a B signal, which is used to multiply the B signal thereby, in order to correct brightness unevenness on a single panel of a display unit at a time of supplying the R signal, the G signal, and the B signal to the display unit and displaying an image, the single panel comprising a first number of horizontal pixels and a second number of vertical pixels, the uniformity correction data for the R, G, and B signals comprising a third number of correction values in the horizontal direction and a fourth number of correction values in the vertical direction, the third number being greater than the first number, and the fourth number being greater than the second number; 
 using hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to multiply each of pixel signals, which compose the R signal, by the correction values of the uniformity correction data for the R signal; 
 using hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to multiply each of pixel signals, which compose the G signal, by the correction values of the uniformity correction data for the G signal; 
 using hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to multiply each of pixel signals, which compose the B signal, by the correction values of the uniformity correction data for the B signal; and 
 using hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to shift positions of pixels with respect to positions of the correction values at a time of multiplying each of the pixel signals, which compose the R signal, by the uniformity correction data for the R signal, positions of pixels with respect to positions of the correction values at a time of multiplying each of the pixel signals, which compose the G signal, by the uniformity correction data for the G signal, and positions of pixels with respect to positions of the correction values at a time of multiplying each of the pixel signals, which compose the B signal, by the uniformity correction data for the B signal from one another, said software stored on computer readable media. 
 
     
     
       5. An image display device comprising:
 the image processing device according to  claim 1 ; and 
 the display unit comprising the single panel. 
 
     
     
       6. An image processing program stored in a non-transitory storage medium, the image processing program causing a computer to execute:
 a step of individually generating uniformity correction data for each of a plurality of color signals, respectively used to multiply the respective color signals thereby, in order to correct brightness unevenness on a single panel of a display unit at a time of supplying the respective color signals to the display unit and displaying an image, the single panel comprising a first number of horizontal pixels and a second number of vertical pixels, the uniformity correction data for the respective color signals comprising a third number of correction values in the horizontal direction and a fourth number of correction values in the vertical direction, the third number being greater than the first number, and the fourth number being greater than the second number; 
 step of multiplying each of pixel signals, which compose the respective color signals, respectively by the correction values of the uniformity correction data for the respective color signals; and 
 a step of shifting positions of pixels with respect to positions of the correction values from one another at a time of multiplying each of the pixel signals, which compose the respective color signals, by the correction values of the uniformity correction data for the respective color signals. 
 
     
     
       7. The image processing program of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the step of individually generating uniformity correction data for each of a plurality of color signals comprises generating uniformity correction data for an R signal, which is used to multiply the R signal thereby, generating uniformity correction data for a G signal, which is used to multiply the G signal thereby, and generating uniformity correction data for a B signal, which is used to multiply the B signal thereby; 
 the step of multiplying each of pixel signals comprises multiplying each of pixel signals, which compose the R signal, by the correction values of the uniformity correction data for the R signal, multiplying each of pixel signals, which compose the G signal, by the correction values of the uniformity correction data for the G signal, multiplying each of pixel signals, which compose the B signal, by the correction values of the uniformity correction data for the B signal; and 
 the step of shifting positions of pixels with respect to positions of the correction values comprises multiplying each of the pixel signals which compose the R signal, by the correction values of the uniformity correction data for the R signal, multiplying each of the pixel signals which compose the G signal, by the correction values of the uniformity correction data for the G signal, and multiplying each of the pixel signals which compose the B signal, by the correction values of the uniformity correction data for the B signal. 
 
     
     
       8. The image processing program of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a step of providing level correction by making a correction to reduce an amplitude of each of the uniformity correction data for the R signal, the uniformity correction data for the G signal, and the uniformity correction data for the B signal, when each of color signal levels of the R signal, the G signal, and the B signal is less than a predetermined threshold value.